The recent TheatreCraft careers fair, held at the Royal Opera House, attracted over 1,000 young people interested in working backstage in theatre, making this year's event the biggest so far.

The event, which was opened by acclaimed director Jamie Lloyd, featured more than 50 exhibitors, over 70 workshops, networking hubs and an ‘Ask the Experts’ zone that offered one-to-one advice sessions with 33 industry experts.

‘It’s ok not to have an idea of what exactly you want to do in theatre or why,’ said Jamie when opening the fair. ‘It is your passion and drive to be part of the industry that is the most important thing.’

Jamie Simmons, a 22-year-old student and aspiring director based in Leeds, braved a 3am start and long journey via bus to arrive in time for the opening speech.

‘Meeting Jamie Lloyd was brilliant,’ he said. ‘Standing face to face with potential employers allowed me to portray my passion for, understanding of and dedication to the arts. I hope to find some kind of work placement out of the contacts I made today.’

Although the next TheatreCraft fair won't take place for another year, there are still plenty of opportunities to explore careers backstage. The Royal Opera House runs Apprenticeship schemes in a wide range of backstage areas - including Scenic Art, Stage Engineering and Armoury. There are also opportunities for work experience placements.